I was hired by the NFL in 1995 to address the worrisome decline in youth football participation. The remarkable progress we made during that tenure involved setting up a series of programs that not only attracted more kids to play football, but, more importantly, made the game safer to play.
education
Do Girls and Boys Play Differently?
Whether its girls being mean or boys getting carried away, children need to be guided back into a more positive mode of play. We take care not to normalize antisocial play through parental inaction.
The Power of Play, Part 2
One reason why is that parents are struggling to overcome their fears. Child safety is foremost in our minds, and mostly with good reason. Many neighborhoods are unsafe.
The Power of Play, Part 1
It’s Levy’s biggest challenge: to force her hyper-trained, over-taught players to think on their feet, to play creatively. She spends hours designing and redesigning her practices to address this deficiency head-on.
What Can I Do When Expectations Compromise Relationships?
Sports can be pivotal to developing strong parent-child relationships. But the onus is on the parent to evolve.
Is My Child Ready to Play a Certain Position?
From a conditioning perspective, no child, starting pitcher or novice, should take the mound without a well-rounded, carefully executed twenty- to thirty-minute warm-up.
Can Competitive Sports Affect My Child’s Friendships?
I hear stories from other parents about my child struggling in his friendships. Does this have anything to do with the competitive sports he is playing?
Are Travel Teams Essential?
Should my nine-year-old play on an elite team? Many of her friends are doing this, but I worry that it will be too much stress and infringe too much on our family time.
When Should My Child Start Organized Sports?
My child is five years old. A lot of the parents around me are busy choosing a sport or sports for their child. But I’m not sure it’s the right time for him to start organized sports yet.
Why Free Play is Key to Young Athletes’ Success, Ottawa Citizen
Danny Almonte was the star of the 2001 Little League World Series. In three games, the lanky, fireballing pitcher from the Bronx gave up three hits, one run (unearned) and struck out 62 of the 72 batters he faced. And like major league baseball superstars Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez and many others, Danny Almonte was also a cheat. His father had falsified his birth certificate […]